Crossroads. Big decisions. Revelations. Realizations. Endings.

Are you going through any of these right now? It seems like a lot of people are, including me!

Amidst all of the confusion and feelings and doing and thinking I know that I need to create pockets of peace so that I can make decisions and take action in a calm, grounded way.

Nine things that bring me peace are:

1. Reading
I love memoirs. Any recommendations?

2. Writing (in my journal or blogging)
I usually like to write in journals without lines, but I love the weight, size and cover of this journal I’m writing in at the moment.

3. Meditation
I use the Meditation Timer Free app, so I won’t peek at the clock while I’m sitting (but I still do!).

4. Being in nature
The hubs and I loved hiking and camping in Humboldt Redwoods State Park last fall.

5. Being with people I love who love me
I recently visited my grandma for her birthday. Is there anyone who loves you more unconditionally than your grandparent?

6. Making things
Taking nature photos and putting them through Instagram is one of the few things that pulls me fully into the present moment.

7. Dancing
One of my earliest memories is dancing around my room to albums on my little turquoise record player. I may not be good at it, but I love it so. This is a photo of my Zumba teacher and I after class.

8. Being of service to others
I recently started a 29-day cycle of giving one thing (e.g. time, money, attention, objects, an experience) away each day based on Cami Walker’s book 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life.

9. Cooking
One of my favorite quotes comes from an episode of an old TV show, Brothers and Sisters. In the midst of a family crisis, one of the daughters, Sarah (Rachel Griffiths), tells the mom, Nora (Sally Field), to stop chopping carrots for the family dinner as if everything is OK. Sarah says, “Carrots are not important right now.” Nora replies, “Sarah, you’re wrong. You have to care about the carrots. It’s the carrots and the onions and the celery that ground us. Nothing is more basic than that. When the whole world is shifting and changing, you’ve got to hold onto your carrots.”

What brings you peace? Make a little list and find time to do a few of the things on it this week.

Photos of peaceful water, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, my grandma and I, the bee, and the carrots are taken and/or owned by me. Photo of my Zumba teacher and I is by Andreina Febres-Cordero.